Starred Questions and Statements:Back-Bench Contributions

Lord Lucas: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	In the last year for which data are available, and in the equivalent period 10 years ago, what was the average number of answers given to each Starred Question; and what was the average number of answers given during "Back-Bench time" on Statements.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: This information is not recorded and could not be collected in full without incurring disproportionate expense. I have, however, arranged for an analysis to be undertaken of the three-month periods January to March 1993 and 2003, with the following results:
	
		
			  January–March 1993 January–March 2003 
			 Average number of  supplementary  questions per  Starred Question 7.1 6.0 
			 Average number of  answers during  "Back-Bench  time" on  Statements 8.4 8.2 
		
	
	On some occasions (five out of 16 in 1993 and eight out of 22 in 2003) "Back-Bench time" on Statements lasted less than 20 minutes. If one counts only those Statements when Back-Bench time lasted 20 minutes or more, then the average number of answers during Back-Bench time was 9.5 in 1993 and 9.2 in 2003.

Religiously Aggravated Offences

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether all police forces monitor and publish the number of religiously motivated incidents; and
	What are the latest available statistics for the number of faith-related incidents reported to each of the police forces in England and Wales.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Statistics at national level for religiously motivated offences are currently not kept centrally. The Metropolitan Police Force has begun to keep its own statistics on such offences, following the introduction of new religiously aggravated offences in December 2001 as part of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act. Their statistics are as follows:
	
		
			 Month/Year Total Number of Religiously Aggravated Offences 
			 2002 
			 January 36 
			 February 17 
			 March 19 
			 April 36 
			 May 45 
			 June 22 
			 July 16 
			 August 25 
			 September 20 
			 October 18 
			 November 16 
			 December 11 
			 Total 281 
			 2003 (to date) 
			 January 15 
			 February 10 
			 March 27 
			 April 14 
			 May 26 
			 June 15 
			 Total 107 
		
	
	All police services now keep records of racist incidents in their areas, and the Home Office will be looking to encourage all forces similarly to record instances of religiously motivated incidents.
	Since January 2002 the Crown Prosecution Service has had 57 cases of religiously aggravated offences referred to it for prosecution by the police.

Overseas Students: Visa Extension Charges

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will exempt students from charges for visas extensions for the purposes of completing their studies in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We fully recognise the contribution overseas students make to the United Kingdom and wish to encourage them to study here, but do not accept that the general taxpayer should fund the service. The benefits, are after all, reciprocal.
	If we were to implement exemptions at reduced fees for students this would be argued, with some justification, to be unfair to other applicants paying the full fee, some of whom we are equally anxious to attract to the United Kingdom.
	It is my expectation that new students will be granted sufficient leave to enable them to stay for a short time beyond the completion of their studies to enable them to travel in the United Kingdom or attend their graduation. Instructions to this effect have been reissued.

Education, Family Care and Crime Prevention: Administrative Areas

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What scope they and local authorities have to align as closely as possible the catchment areas of:
	(a) secondary schools;
	(b) social workers and child care specialists;
	(c) probation officers;
	(d) youth offending teams; and
	(e) police districts; and whether they have considered the potential benefits for family care and crime prevention of small administrative changes of this kind.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government's position is that any changes to local boundaries of responsibility should be focused on local government boundaries.
	In the case of secondary schools, it would be possible for local education authorities (LEAs) to review catchment areas for which they are the admission authority, but this is not for all schools. Foundation and voluntary aided schools set their own admission arrangements. Where they are the admission authority, LEAs would need to consider a range of issues, such as the number of places in the school, the number of children living in the area, access to other schools, when they set catchment areas. Not all LEAs designate catchment areas for their schools, but use other criteria such as distance from the school.
	The organisation of social work is determined locally. With the advent of children's trusts, with their accent on integration of services to focus on the needs of individual children and families, social workers and child care specialists will be brought together in multi-disciplinary teams. They will work with many other professionals, including those in youth offending teams, and could be based in schools.
	Section 39 of the Crime and Disorder Act places a duty on local authorities (in co-operation with chief officers of the police, probation committees or health authorities within their areas) to establish one or more youth offending teams. Demarcation of the catchment areas of youth offending teams (YOTS) and alignment of those areas would therefore be reliant on the independent decision of local authorities.
	Paragraph 5 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 states that the various areas of the National Probation Service (NPS) should be aligned with the Police Service, in order for it to perform its functions. Therefore police and the NPS are already aligned and are not aligned with the other mentioned bodies.
	Paragraph 6 of the Act does allow for the alteration of the division of areas from time to time, by order of the Secretary of State, but this would not mean that the police would change their boundaries. The structure of basic command units within police forces is a matter for the chief constable rather than central government. However, many forces have recognised the benefits of co-terminosity with local authorities. As a result many have now reviewed the boundaries of their basic command units and where possible have sought to align them with local authorities.
	While it might be desirable to try and align boundaries as far as possible, differing service delivery areas and accountability mechanisms can make it difficult to co-ordinate closer alignment in all areas. Improvement in delivery is being undertaken with local partnerships, such as Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) and Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs), which bring together those responsible for delivery of a number of services including family care and crime prevention. We are working with partnerships to bring benefits through the better co-ordination of delivery and the reduction of bureaucracy.

Prisons: Child-centred Visits

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which prisons are able to offer child-centred visits (as pioneered in Northern Ireland).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Magilligan Prison in Northern Ireland launched a child-centred visits scheme in partnership with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders in September 2001. The scheme was recently extended to include "Big Book Share". Maghaberry Prison plans to operate two child-centred visits pilots later this year for female and life sentence prisoners.
	Prison Service policy within England and Wales is to encourage establishments to offer extended children's visits, where possible. An increasing number of prisons offer these visits, which assist imprisoned parents in maintaining their parental role, however, provision remains at the discretion of governors and is dependent on operational and resource considerations. Information on the establishments which offer child centred visits is not collated centrally by the Prison Service of England and Wales.

HM Inspector of Prisons

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to alter the functions or reduce the powers of HM Inspector of Prisons.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I will write to the noble Lord at the earliest opportunity and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Women's Security: Licensed Premises in London

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What statistics are collected by the Metropolitan Police on rapes and sexual assaults on women in London's bars and nightclubs; and whether as a result of these statistics they will recommend that the managers of these establishments provide additional security.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Metropolitan Police Service has developed Project Sapphire in order to improve rape investigations and enhance the care given to victims of rape across London. The Project Sapphire sexual offences database holds data on allegations of rape and indecent assaults at entertainment venues, including public houses and nightclubs.
	The data shows that over a 21-month period (January 2002 to September 2003), 70 rapes were committed within entertainment venues. This represents two per cent of the total rapes reported during this period.
	The provision of security within entertainment venues should always be of concern to the management of that venue. If licensed premises are currently giving rise to criminal activity of any kind, which a licensee is unable to prevent, it is open to the police or any other person to ask the licensing justices to consider revoking the alcohol licence for the premises. It is therefore in the interests of any licensee to co-operate fully with the police to prevent serious crime of this kind. Under the Licensing Act 2003, when fully implemented, all holders of premises licences will be under a duty to take steps to prevent crime and disorder and assure the safety of the public on the premises, including compliance with associated conditions. If a premises licence holder fails to do so, it would be open to the police to seek a review of the licence, which can lead to the imposition of new conditions or, in serious cases, to the revocation of the licence.
	The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is to license door supervisors on a rolling geographical programme, starting with a pilot in March 2004. To obtain an SIA licence, door supervisors will be required to meet certain competencies (achieved through training programmes), and pass a criminality check through the Criminal Records Bureau. By raising the professional standards of door supervisors, SIA licensing will contribute to a safer environment for all customers in pubs and clubs.

Coroner Arrangements

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps the Home Secretary is taking, in the light of the recent report by the independent Review of Coroner Services and the third report of the Shipman inquiry on coroners and death certificates, to make cremation and coroner arrangements more effective.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I will write to the noble Lord at the earliest opportunity and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Burial Law

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will undertake public consultation on a review of burial law, including arrangements for the disposal of the dead and the exhumation of buried human remains.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I will write to the noble Lord at the earliest opportunity and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

EU Anti-trafficking Measures

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies they have made of the action taken by the European Union or any of its constituent bodies in the fight against trafficking in drugs, illegal weapons and persons; and whether any similar studies have been made by the governments of other European Union member states.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Reliable data on trafficking is extremely scarce, with the result that it is very difficult to make a comparative analysis of either the phenomenon itself or of the various counter-measures that have been introduced against it. The involvement of organised crime organisations complicates matters significantly further from a research perspective. However, the following three initiatives or sets of initiatives may be of relevance:
	(1) Reflex
	The most important development in terms of enforcement in the UK was the establishment of Reflex in May 2000. Reflex is a practical multi-agency task force on organised immigration crime, which includes people trafficking. The task force is led by the National Crime Squad (NCS), and brings together all the key agencies involved in combating the problem. This includes the Immigration Service, the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), the security and intelligence agencies and key police forces including the London Metropolitan Police, Kent Police and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	In strengthening enforcement, the work of Reflex is aimed at building up the intelligence picture, co-ordinating operations and providing a focal point for the operational response to organised immigration crime. Reflex also provides both the information and the means to disrupt and dismantle the activities of organised crime groups involved in these activities. The task force is based around joint working between police and immigration, as well as between different countries on trafficking routes. The work of Reflex is both national and international. Overall, the Reflex strategy encompasses an end-to-end approach—it sees the phenomenon of organised immigration crime as one to be tackled in source and transit countries, EU, UK borders, UK-based facilitators, as well as through financial investigations.
	An internal review is currently being conducted on the contribution of the core agencies to the Reflex objectives. This review is for internal management purposes only and is not available for wider dissemination.
	(2) Nigeria—Italy
	A programme of action against people trafficking in minors and young women from Nigeria into Italy for the purposes of sexual exploitation is currently being carried out as a joint initiative between UNICRI (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The project has been funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has been formally approved by the Nigerian Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Nigerian Government.
	The project envisaged four parallel activities to be carried out in both countries:
	(i) Research—collection and analysis of information about trafficking practices and existing counter-responses in Nigeria and Italy;
	(ii) Institutional Capacity Building—creation of task forces in Italy and Nigeria to formulate guidelines to improve bilateral co-operation and establish mechanisms of information sharing and collaborative learning between the two countries;
	(iii) Prevention—design and implementation of awareness-raising campaigns at a local level; and,
	(iv) Assistance—design and implementation of activities to support NGOs, associations and local departments involved in assistance for the victims.
	It is anticipated that the project will be completed March 2004.
	(3) Drugs
	The market for illicit drugs is structured in much the same way as most other commodity markets. Very roughly there is an import or wholesale level (upper) a distribution level brokering between wholesale and (middle) a consumer supply level (lower). Interventions against traffickers in drugs are aimed very separately at these different levels of the market.
	There is considerable activity aimed at reducing upper level 1 drug trafficking. For example, from April 1998 to the end of March 2003, the National Crime Squad recorded 1,490 operations (most of which involved drug trafficking) resulting in some:
	1,300 groups being disrupted or dismantled;
	4,600 arrests were made, more than two thirds of which (67%) resulted in charges;
	£140,000,000 criminal assets identified; and
	118 tonnes of drugs seized.
	Other UK agencies recorded additional outputs (the biggest seizures being made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise). All UK law enforcement agencies (LEAs) work closely with those of other countries in transit and source zones.
	The Home Office is currently in the process of evaluating actions by the Merseyside Middle Market Drugs Unit and the regional task force of Operation Tarian (involving the police forces of Dyfed Powys, Gwent and South Wales) who are developing interventions against middle market drug dealers. Results should be available in 2005–06.
	Studies into the actions against the consumer level of the market are comparatively well researched. There is British work by Edmunds et al 2 (1996) and Best et al 3 (2001) for example, while European comparative work on retail/local/city markets has recently been conducted by Paoli et al 4 (2002) and Gruppo Abele/Massard et al 5 (2003).
	The Drug Markets and Supply Section within the Drugs and Alcohol Research Programme continues to expand the evidence base in this area.
	1 For the purposes of this review, upper level trafficking is taken to include source zone traders' relationships and transactions, including wholesale distribution within the source countries; export, international transit, entry into Europe and the UK; and connections downwards to city level. It excludes typically small-scale peasant cultivation of plants (such as opium poppy and coca bush); and, at the other end of the chain, exclude retail sale and transactions immediately above retail.
	2 Edmunds, M, Hough, M and Urquia, N, (1996) Tackling Local Drug Markets, Crime Prevention and Prevention Series Paper 80, London: Police Research Group, pp 55.
	3 Best, D, Strang, J, Beswick, T and Gossop, M, (2001), Assessment of a concentrated police operation: no discernible impact on drug availability, price or purity, British Journal of Criminology, 41, 738-745.
	4 Paoli, L, et al, (2002), Draft First Phase Final Report: illegal drug markets in Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Milan, Lisbon: EMCDDA Scientific Report, A4 format, pp 169.
	5 Gruppo Abele/Massari, M et al (editors), (2003), Synthetic drugs trafficking in three European cities: major trends and the involvement of organised crime, Torino: Gruppo Abele et al.

Mr Joe Scholes: Death in Custody

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will arrange for a public inquiry into the death by suicide of Joseph Scholes, aged 16, on 24 March 2002 in Stoke Heath young offender institution, and into connected issues.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are no current plans to hold a public inquiry into the case of John (known as Joe) Scholes. More generally Paul Goggins is considering whether from a future date the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman should provide independent scrutiny of all deaths in prison custody.
	Any death in custody, particularly that of a young person, is a terrible tragedy, which needs to be carefully investigated. As matters stand in the case of Joe Scholes, the coroner's inquest into his death has not yet taken place, having been adjourned with no date yet set.
	Both the police and the Prison Service have already investigated the death. In the latter investigation the investigating team included two members from outside the Prison Service (Youth Justice Board and the Director of Public Health) and an advisory panel was also convened to advise the investigation. The panel included representatives from the Prison Service, Youth Justice Board, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's Office, the local health authority and social services. The resultant investigation report has been disclosed to the coroner in order to inform the inquest, and to the family's legal representatives.
	Additionally, Trafford Social Services has carried out a "Part 8" case review pursuant to Part 8 of Working Together to Safeguard Children and that report will be finalised after the inquest.

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001: Detainees

Baroness Uddin: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people have been detained under emergency legislation without charges being made against them; and whether this is compatible with the principles of human rights.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Sixteen people have been certified and detained under the powers contained in Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (the ATCS Act). Of these, two have chosen to leave the United Kingdom voluntarily, as any of the detainees are free to do at any time. One further person has been certified under Part 4 of the ATCS Act but is currently detained under other powers.
	Under the Act, the detainees are entitled to a full review of their individual cases by the Special Immigration Appeal Commission. To date the commission has considered the first 10 cases and upheld the Home Secretary's decision in each case.
	The detainees have also challenged the derogation from Article 5 of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which was necessary to ensure that the Act was compatible with the United Kingdom's human rights obligations.
	In October 2002 the Court of Appeal unanimously held that this derogation was lawful. The detainees have been granted leave to appeal to the House of Lords but no hearing date has been set.

Asylum Seekers' Children

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will collect and publish information concerning the condition of the children of refugees and asylum seekers within the United Kingdom and their treatment by public authorities, having regard to the obligations of the United Kingdom under international human rights law.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No specific information is recorded on the condition of children of asylum seekers and refugees.
	The Children in Need Census—(CiN)—collects information on all children in the care of social services. The information collected on each child includes age, gender, ethnicity, as well as whether the child is disabled, an asylum-seeker, on the child protection register or looked after.
	In the last CiN census, conducted in February 2003, details on approximately 380,000 children were recorded.
	In addition, the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has just published a report on Asylum Seeker Pupils: Schools' Provision and Response.

EU Internal Boundaries

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies they have made of the action taken by the European Union or any of its constituent bodies in respect of its objective to remove internal boundaries; and whether any similar studies have been made by the governments of other European Union member states.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I will write to the noble Lord at the earliest opportunity and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Police Funding 2004–05

Lord Brookman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to announce the provisional police funding allocations for 2004–05.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I have today placed in the Library a copy of the Home Secretary's proposals for allocation of police grant for England and Wales in 2004–05. We intend to implement the proposals subject to consideration of any representations we receive about them.
	Funding the police properly remains a top priority for this Government. The settlement for 2004–05 builds on significant extra resources for policing in England and Wales over the last three years. Since 2000–01 total provision for policing to be supported by grant or spent centrally on services for the police has risen by over £2.3 billion or over 30 per cent.
	Total provision for policing to be supported by grant in 2004–05 will be £10,086 million. This is a cash rise of £403 million or 4.2 per cent over the provision for 2003–04. This includes principal formula police grant, specific grants, capital related grants, direct Home Office spending and the formula spending on which revenue support grant is based.
	We have decided, exceptionally this year, to provide a standard general grant increase of 3.25 per cent for each police authority in England and Wales. We recognise the financial pressures on police authorities and we are concerned to avoid excessive burdens on local taxpayers. Our approach should help ensure that precepts are kept at a sustainable level and that policing services continue to improve. The grant increase is sufficient to cover inflation, in particular the pay increases announced for next year.
	In order to do this, we have added £140 million from wider Home Office resources and we have transferred into general police grant provision amounting to £100 million from existing and planned specific grants and central spending. These transfers will give police authorities greater scope to determine their own spending.
	We launched the National Policing Plan 2004–07 earlier this month. The overarching aim of the plan is to deliver enhanced police performance and public reassurance. Particular regard is given to the Home Secretary's priorities to provide a citizen-focused service and to tackle the crimes that blight the lives of many. Other key priorities include tackling anti-social behaviour and disorder; continuing to reduce burglary, vehicle crime, robbery, and drug-related crime and combating serious and organised crime. This settlement will support the priorities outlined in the National Policing Plan and continue to support our reform and modernisation process. There is continuation funding for recruits under the Crime Fighting Fund and community support officers who are playing an important role reassuring the public on our streets; more funding from the Street Crime Initiative that has seen street crime reduce by an estimated 7 per cent in England and Wales in April–June 2003 compared with the same period last year; Basic Command Unit funding to deal with policing problems most effectively at local level; continuation of the Rural Policing Fund to improve policing for communities with the most widespread populations; funding from the DNA Expansion Programme and other schemes to allow forces to make the most of new technology.
	In this statement, we want to outline the wider provision for support for the police service in England and Wales.
	The police grant settlement
	We propose to distribute the settlement as follows:
	
		Table 1: Police funding settlement for 2004–05 compared to 2003–04 £ million(1) 
		
			  Provision   Variance 
			  2003–04 2004–05 £ million Per cent 
			 1. Direct funding for police authorities: 
			 Home Office Police grant 4,288 3,380 92 2.1 
			 Formula Spending share(2) 3,776 3,988 212 5.6 
			 Specific grants for police authorities 663 657 –6 –0.9 
			 2. Capital Grants and Support 333 355 22 6.6 
			 3. Central spending on policing(3) 623 706 83 13.3 
			 Grand total 9,683 10,086 403 4.2 
		
	
	(1) Rounded to £ million.
	(2) Includes revenue support grant/national non-domestic rates grants and product of assumed national council tax precept. Both years' figures exclude technical adjustment for resource equalisation (£600 million).
	(3) Includes provision for NCS/NCIS and Airwave core service charges.
	Police funding proposals within the local government finance system are being announced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and by the Welsh Assembly Government.
	Provisional general policing grants (ie Home Office police grant, revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates) for English and Welsh police authorities in 2004–05 compared with 2003–04 are given in Table 2.
	Metropolitan Police funding
	Grant for the MPA will increase from £1,764.1 million to £1,822.3 million; a cash increase of 3.25 per cent in line with all other police authorities. We have increased the formula provision for the MPA national and capital city functions from £202 million to £207 million to keep the formula up to date so that the MPA will receive appropriate benefit in future years. The MPA will receive separately provision for counter-terrorism, continuing funding made available this year. Details will be announced at a later stage. £15 million will also be made available to fund 750 CSOs recruited since 2002. The MPA will be eligible for specific grants from the Crime Fighting Fund, the Basic Command Unit Fund and the Street Crime Initiative.
	Specific grants for police authorities
	In addition to increased general grant, police authorities will continue to receive extra funding through several specific grants for particular schemes. Targeted grants were introduced as a direct response to what the police service and the public told us they wanted. Specific grants enable us to target funds to the areas where they are particularly needed.
	The measure of the success of specific funding is now clear. We have record police numbers helped by the Crime Fighting Fund; increased support for those living in rural areas; the Street Crime Initiative has helped reduce street crime; recruitment problems in London and the south-east have been tackled through increased or new allowances for officers; the presence on our streets of community support officers is providing the public with reasssurance.
	Provision for specific grants in 2004–05 will be £657 million, a little lower than in 2003–04. This has enabled us to maximise general grant which may be spent at the discretion of police authorities.
	The main specific grants are:
	Crime Fighting Fund: £277 million will be provided to forces in 2004–05. This fund has been a remarkable success. With the help of this fund the Home Secretary's target of 132,500 officers by March 2004 was exceeded by nearly 4,000 this August. We will continue to pay for the 9,000 police officers recruited between April 2000 and March 2003 through the Crime Fighting Fund. We intend to pay for 60 per cent of the cost of the further 650 officers recruited under the Fund in 2003–04. The scheme will not be expanded further in 2004–05.
	Counter Terrorism: As last year, we will continue to provide additional funding to the Police Service to enable it to respond to the increased threat from international terrorism. This funding will be provided to both the Metropolitan Police Service and provincial forces in England and Wales and is in addition to existing funding streams for counter-terrorism and security.
	Basic Command Unit (BCU) funds: £50 million will be provided for BCUs. These are at the forefront of local policing. The grant is targeted towards forces with BCUs in high crime areas to help reduce crime in partnership with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. The money is directed so that all forces in England and Wales receive a proportion of the pot.
	Special priority payments: The pay and conditions package agreed by the PNB in May 2002 introduced new elements into police pay such as payments for the most experienced officers who can demonstrate a high level of professional competence and extra rewards for officers in the most difficult and demanding posts. We have split the allocation for 2004–05. £50 million will be available as a specific grant for special priority payments in 2004–05. A further £9 million has been rolled back into general grant.
	Community support officers (CSOs): £41 million funding will be available to support the costs of CSOs who free up police officer time, play a crucial role in providing reassurance and who have some powers to deal with low level crime and anti-social behaviour. The provision will continue to fund CSOs recruited in 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	Rural Policing Fund: £30 million is again provided for the particular needs of the 31 forces with the most widespread populations.
	Street Crime Initiative: Additional funding of around £25 million is being made available to support continued police operations against street crime. Distribution will be determined in December 2003.
	We will, as well, make available funding for the following:
	75 per cent of the cost of the London and south-east allowances (£49 million).
	Funding support for the cost of free travel for Metropolitan and City of London officers (£3.2 million).
	Promotion of volunteering within the Police Service (£7 million).
	Workforce Modernisation Implementation Fund: we have allocated £5 million in 2004–05 to support forces in developing an effective skills mix of police staff and police officers.
	The Home Secretary is committed to the DNA Expansion Programme and the benefits that it is delivering. Funding is provided for the continuation programme.
	Police authority capital
	We intend to allocate provision of capital grant for 2004–05 in December.
	In addition capital grants for the introduction of Airwave will be made available to those authorities taking up the radio communications service in 2004–05.
	There will be capital provision for the case and custody project of the criminal justice IT system. This will be supported by resource funding.
	£40 million is being provided for the capital costs of developing the Metropolitan Police Authority's Command Control and Communications Information (C3i) System. In total £140 million is being provided towards this project.
	Central spending on policing
	Central spending on policing will total £706 million. The main specific items are the DNA expansion programme, the National Strategy for Police Information Systems and the Airwave contractor's core charges. In addition, provision is made for the costs of organisations supporting policing, mainly the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), Centrex (the Central Police Training and Development Authority), National Criminal Intelligence Service/National Crime Squad and scientific and technical facilities.
	Efficiency
	The settlement continues to take account of our commitment to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the police service. Guidance on efficiency plans for 2004–05 will be issued shortly. Future police grant allocations will be considered in the light of police authorities meeting the current target for 2 per cent efficiency improvements. The efficiency target will be examined during the spending review 2004. Targets reflecting each authority's circumstances may be more appropriate than a universal one. We shall also be considering the balance between cash releasing efficiencies and those which are the result of service improvements.
	Conclusion
	We are continuing to invest substantially in the police service to ensure delivery of an effective and efficient police service that has the support and confidence of all communities. We have listened carefully to the concerns of police authorities in determining this settlement. We have ensured that all forces will receive an increase of 3.25 per cent in general grant which is well above general inflation of 2.6 per cent. This settlement provides the resources to help the police do their job more effectively, building on a strong platform of record police officer numbers, a growing policing community and reduced levels of crime.
	
		Table 2: Police grant allocations by English and Welsh police authority -- £ million
		
			 Police Authority 2003–04 2004–05 % 
			  Allocation(4) Allocation(4) Change(7) 
			 English Shire forces 
			 Avon & Somerset 157.1 162.2 3.3 
			 Bedfordshire 60.1 62.1 3.3 
			 Cambridgeshire 71.1 73.4 3.3 
			 Cheshire 103.9 107.2 3.3 
			 Cleveland 84.1 86.8 3.3 
			 Cumbria 57.7 59.6 3.3 
			 Derbyshire 97.9 101.2 3.3 
			 Devon & Cornwall 161.5 166.7 3.3 
			 Dorset 61.6 63.6 3.3 
			 Durham 81.5 84.2 3.3 
			 Essex 155.9 160.9 3.3 
			 Gloucestershire 57.0 58.9 3.3 
			 Hampshire 184.5 190.5 3.3 
			 Hertfordshire 101.5 104.8 3.3 
			 Humberside 110.9 114.6 3.3 
			 Kent 176.8 182.6 3.3 
			 Lancashire 177.1 182.9 3.3 
			 Leicestershire 98.8 102.0 3.3 
			 Lincolnshire 58.7 60.6 3.3 
			 Norfolk 79.6 82.2 3.3 
			 North Yorkshire 70.4 72.7 3.3 
			 Northamptonshire 62.2 64.3 3.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 123.6 127.6 3.3 
			 Staffordshire 105.8 109.2 3.3 
			 Suffolk 63.9 66.0 3.3 
			 Surrey 85.4 88.2 3.3 
			 Sussex 153.1 158.1 3.3 
			 Thames Valley 205.9 212.6 3.3 
			 Warwickshire 48.2 49.8 3.3 
			 West Mercia 104.4 107.7 3.3 
			 Wiltshire 58.7 60.6 3.3 
			 English Metropolitan forces 
			 Greater Manchester 380.8 393.3 3.3 
			 Merseyside 240.5 248.4 3.3 
			 Northumbria 214.3 221.4 3.3 
			 South Yorkshire 172.3 178.0 3.3 
			 West Midlands 386.5 399.4 3.3 
			 West Yorkshire 289.4 298.9 3.3 
			 London forces 
			 GLA—Police 1,764.1 1,822.3 3.3 
			 City of London(5) 32.5 32.7 N/A 
			 English Total 6,699.2 6,918.2 3.3 
			  
			 Welsh forces(6) 
			 Dyfed—Powys 49.3 50.9 3.3 
			 Gwent 69.6 71.8 3.3 
			 North Wales 73.3 75.7 3.3 
			 South Wales 162.9 168.2 3.3 
			 Welsh total 355.1 366.6 3.3 
			 TOTAL 7,054.3 7,284.9 3.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	(4) Rounded to the nearest £100,000. Grant as calculated under the Local Government Finance Report (England) and Local Government Finance Report (Wales). This includes the Metropolitan Police special payment, and the effects of floors and ceilings.
	(5) Figures for the City of London are police grant only. RSG is allocated to the City of London in respect of all functions and is unhypothecated. The City of London is grouped with education authorities for the calculation of grant floors and ceilings and receives an increase of 10.57 per cent.
	(6) Figures for Welsh exclude any adjustments for capital financing. In addition to the general grant increase, North Wales will receive support for a new PFI project.
	(7) A "floor" increase of 3.25 per cent has been applied to all police authorities. Minor variations from 3.25 per cent in the increase in grant occur mainly due to capital financing adjustments. Percentage increases are rounded to one decimal place.

Iraq: Radiometric Survey of South

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will, if necessary in conjunction with the World Health Organisation and the International Atomic Energy Authority, commission a full radiometric survey of the area of South Iraq which they control, including but not restricted to battle zones of the first Gulf War.

Lord Bach: There are no plans to commission a full radiometric survey of the area of South Iraq, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation (WHO) or the International Atomic Energy Agency.
	As part of the Coalition Provisional Authority governing Iraq, the United Kingdom is committed to discharging its health and safety and environmental protection responsibilities and to working with our coalition partners and others with similar aims. To this end, the Department for International Development (DfID) has, in principle, agreed to part-fund the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) assessment of post-conflict environmental issues in Iraq. We have not yet been advised of the nature of any radiometric survey that UNEP might wish to carry out, but we understand that radiometric surveys within the UK area of operations are not identified as a priority within UNEP's "Desk Study on Iraq" www.postconflict.unep.ch/publications/iraq–ds.pdf
	In the mean time, we continue to liaise with UNEP and to share information as a contribution to UNEP efforts to ensure that the Iraqi people and others are protected against ionising radiation and other hazards from whatever source.

Small Arms

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any figures of (a) expenditure on promoting exports of small arms and light weapons from the United Kingdom; and (b) expenditure on controlling end uses and trafficking, together with the costs of collecting and destroying such weapons and ammunition, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.

Lord Bach: Information on the costs the Government incur in supporting United Kingdom industry's efforts to legitimately export defence goods and services does not include details of expenditure on the promotion of particular categories of weapons.
	The UK is one of the main donors to the work of the United Nations Development Progamme Small Arms and Demobilisation Unit with £7.5 million committed over the period 2001–04. This funding supports a global programme of weapons collection, stockpile management, capacity building and destruction within the context of disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and community development. The UK's wider Global Conflict Prevention Pool Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Strategy, with over £20 million funding over the same period, aims to combat and prevent the supply, demand and availability of SALW around the globe as a contribution to conflict prevention, and to achieve a reduction in the impact of violent conflict on lives and livelihoods.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a fund (£100,000 to £200,000 per annum) specifically aimed at small arms destruction overseas. This has been used to supply gun-destruction equipment to several African countries and to provide significant funding to a development programme in Cambodia. Other projects are currently under consideration.
	The cost of administering end-use monitoring is not separately recorded.
	The collection of weapons in the UK and their destruction is the responsibility of the Home Office. Information on the national firearms amnesty was provided by my noble friend Lady Scotland of Asthal on 21 October 2003 (Official Report, col. 53). The cost of this work is not available. Information on surplus UK armed forces small arms destroyed by the Ministry of Defence in each year since 2000 is recorded in the Government's Annual Report for Strategic Export Controls.

MoD Police: Operational Report 2002–03

Baroness Turner of Camden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place a copy of the Ministry of Defence Police Operational Report 2002–03 in the Library of the House.

Lord Bach: In light of the recommendations made by the House of Commons Defence Committee as a result of the introduction of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, we are pleased to place in the Library of the House on behalf of the Ministry of Defence Police its operational report for 2002–03.

Medical Supply Agency: Key Targets 2003–04

Lord Orme: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What key targets have been set for the Medical Supply Agency for financial year 2003–04.

Lord Bach: Key targets have been set for the chief executive of the MSA for Financial Year 2003–04. The targets build on the progress already made by the agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:
	Key Target 1
	Meeting Operational Medical Equipment and Material Requirements
	To build and deliver, to schedule and within budget, all modules on the Operational Build programme as agreed with our key customers, the Defence Medical Services Department (DMSD), and to meet all authorised operational requirements for equipment, medical consumables and blood products.
	Key Target 2
	Meeting the Medical Equipment and Material Requirements for the in-year Exercise and Training Programme
	To build and deliver, to schedule and within budget, all modules on the Exercise and Training Build Programme as agreed with DMSD, and to meet all authorised requirements for equipment, medical consumables and blood products.
	Key Target 3
	Meeting Customer Requirements
	To meet demands for Category B items (commonly used items with a unit cost of less than £100 and approved by DMSD) from units and authorised demanders in the UK and overseas within the MSA Charter Response Times (Next Day, 3 Days), as follows:
	(a) Top 250 by value
	Within Charter Response Time 95%
	Follow up (within 5 days) 97%
	(b) Overall
	Within Charter Response Time 90%
	Follow up (within 5 days) 97%
	Key Target 4
	Procurement of Medical Equipment
	Develop and implement a strategy to improve medical equipment and material Whole Life Management with our customers.
	Key Target 5
	MSA Change Programme
	To work with our customers and stakeholders with the objective of delivering the key elements of the MSA Change Programme which will deliver significant improvements in the effectiveness and efficiency of the medical supply chain, contribute to CDL's strategic objectives, and improve delivery to our customers.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Lord Burlison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action the Government intend to take in light of today's judgment in the Court of Appeal regarding the interpretation of the Armed Forces Revision Scheme regulations.

Lord Bach: After the introduction of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) in 1973, the Royal Air Force has, for the purposes of awarding pensions, been reviewing War Pension Scheme decisions on whether injuries, ill-health or deaths were due to service using the normal civil standard of proof ("balance of probabilities"). The War Pension Scheme uses a "beyond reasonable doubt" standard in favour of the claimant for the first seven years after leaving service. This interpretation of AFPS scheme regulations was challenged in a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman who found in favour of the claimant, Mrs Hulme. The ombudsman's decision was upheld on appeal in the High Court and has today been further upheld in the Court of Appeal on the basis that the relevant regulations required AFPS administrators to accept the decision on attributability taken under the War Pension Scheme. We have decided that the Ministry of Defence will not seek leave to appeal the Court of Appeal judgment further to the House of Lords.
	Following this decision, the department will now review previous decisions on entitlement to attributable pensions for those conditions that led to invaliding or to death-in-service where AFPS administrators have previously not accepted War Pension Scheme decisions on attributability. Awards will be backdated and the department will consider compensation to reflect the effect of inflation on the value of pensions over the period of non-payment. We expect to make a further announcement on this matter early in the New Year.
	Initial research indicates that the incorrect interpretation of the regulations is likely to have affected Royal Air Force compensation payments since soon after 1973, and Army and perhaps some Royal Navy claims since 2000.
	We do not know how many pensioners are likely to have been affected or the likely cost. However, a substantial number of pension award decisions will need to be reviewed to ensure that all those at risk are identified. At present, we expect it to take around a year to complete this review. Payments will be made as soon as possible. We will also be using appropriate advertising to publicise to the ex-service community those categories of pensioner who might be affected and how claims can be lodged. We will consider these as quickly as possible. The judgment does not affect the benefits paid under the War Pension Scheme.
	The department will abide fully by the Court of Appeal decision with respect to claims from the past or where a decision is still pending. However, we have decided that, for the future, as soon as the relevant changes can be made to secondary legislation, the department should establish the right of AFPS administrators to take a second decision on attributability, using the balance of probabilities standard of proof. This is the standard of proof used for other public service occupational schemes, as well as for decisions in the civil courts and for the recently proposed new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

Employment Service Estate

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many square metres of the former Employment Service Estate, to be outsourced by the Department for Work and Pensions to Land Securities Trillium, can be vacated under the contract in each year up to 2018; and
	Why the Valuation Office was instructed to value the Employment Service Estate on a vacant possession basis when the Department for Work and Pensions is committed to occupy and pay an annual charge on the majority of the Estate for the next 15 years; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 29 October (WA 45–46), in respect of the Former Employment Service Estate to be outsourced by the Department for Work and Pensions to Land Securities Trillium, whether they will place in the Library of the House full details of the "transparent and demonstrable calculations" necessary to ensure that value for money is obtained; and
	In respect of the former Employment Service Estate to be outsourced by the Department for Work and Pensions to Land Securities Trillium, who has undertaken ongoing independent scrutiny to ensure the robustness of the outcome; how the results of that scrutiny have been reported; when; and to whom; and
	Why the freehold properties in the former Employment Service Estate are to be transferred to Land Securities Trillium at a price of £100 million compared with the agreed valuation of £128.4 million.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The arrangement negotiated with Land Securities Trillium as part of the expanded PRIME contract allows the department a flexible approach to the way it can vacate its surplus property without additional cost. In total 228,000m 2 can be vacated on this basis. This has been profiled in the medium term to reflect the requirements of the department's Estate Strategy and it is not possible therefore to provide an estimate for each year up to 2018.
	The Valuation Office was instructed to value the former Employment Services estate on the basis of vacant possession as this is the way in which Land Securities Trillium was asked to price its bid and because the investment value of the department's occupation during the term of the contract is reflected in the unitary charge that DWP will pay Land Securities Trillium for occupying space.
	It is not possible to publish information in relation to the value for money calculations, as this remains commercial in confidence at the current time. The National Audit Office is carrying out an independent scrutiny and its report is due to be published in spring 2004.
	The department has sought to obtain the best value from the way it received payment for its properties. It was found that a capital receipt of £100 million from Land Securities Trillium, with the balance of the property values used to reduce the ongoing unitary charge payments, provided us with the optimum value for money solution.

Disabled People: Unemployment

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the cost of supporting unemployed disabled people.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: It is not possible to give a figure on the total cost of supporting unemployed disabled people as many of the costs are not separately identifiable.
	However, in 2002–03 we spent £100 million on benefits for disabled people who were seeking work.
	Source:
	1. Expenditure has been estimated by use of benefits administrative data held by DWP. For Jobseekers Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, this is a 5 per cent sample, for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit this is a 1 per cent sample.
	Notes: 1. Unemployment is defined as receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, and disabled as receipt of the disability premium within JSA.
	2. Expenditure refers to program spend only; administrative expenditure isn't included. The Expenditure for 2002–03 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn for the year and not the amounts voted by Parliament.
	3. Amount shown is in cash terms, and rounded to the nearest £5 million.

Disabled People: Unemployment

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of those registered as disabled people who are unemployed suffer from a mental illness.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Labour Force Survey (Summer 2003) indicates that there are 580,000 people of working age (16 to State Pension Age), who report that they are DDA disabled and have a mental health condition as their main health problem, in Great Britain.
	Of these, 20 per cent (representing about 110,000 people) were in work and 470,000 are not employed.

Disabled People: Unemployment

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have conducted any research into the number of unemployed disabled people who could benefit from a training course.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: No research has been conducted specifically into the number of unemployed disabled people who could benefit from a training course.
	We have a wide range of programmes, including Work Based Learning for Adults, which offer support in helping disabled people secure work where they are ready and able to do so. Jobcentre Plus advisory services and the specialist programmes are available irrespective of benefit (if any) claimed.

Mobile Telephone Numbers: Comprehensive Directory

Lord Elton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 29 October (WA 41), why the letter from the Director General of Telecommunications at Oftel was not published in the Official Report with that Answer in the customary manner; and whether they will arrange for it to be published with their Answer to this Question.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Director General of Telecommunications at Oftel has now written to Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, and I have arranged for his letter to be published in the Official Report with this Answer.
	Letter from the Director General of Telecommunications at Oftel, dated 12 November 2003. Mobile Telephone Numbers: Comprehensive Directory
	You asked a question in the House of Lords on 29 October 2003 on the subject of mobile telephone numbers and their presence in a universal database. Lord Sainsbury has asked me to respond directly to you as your question is in relation to an issue that falls under my responsibilities as Director General of Telecommunications.
	At present there is one "universal" database of UK telephone numbers. The universal database is maintained by a stand-alone unit of BT and is known as OSIS (the Operator Services Information System). OSIS contains the details of fixed as well as mobile numbers, and is available to directory enquiry service providers on a cost-orientated basis.
	Some mobile telephone numbers are currently available via OSIS and there is a manual process to allow those consumers who wish to have a listing to be added. (Consumers can of course choose to be ex-directory, whether they have a mobile or a fixed telephone.)
	I understand that, at present, BT and the mobile operators are working on the automated process necessary to ensure that mobile telephone numbers can be easily transferred to OSIS. Once these discussions are complete, it is likely that general mobile data will be available in early 2004 although, as I mentioned above, a consumer can have their data inputted on to OSIS at present via a manual system.
	However, I should stress that, whilst the industry negotiations thus far have proceeded positively, they do involve complex issues, including the consideration of key matters such as cost recovery, therefore there is a possibility of a dispute being brought to my attention.
	Under the General Conditions of Entitlement, Communications Providers (including mobile providers) must provide their subscribers directory data on terms that are fair and cost-orientated and in a format agreed between the two parties. If BT and any of the mobile operators fail to reach agreement on, for example, the cost of this data or the format in which it is supplied, then Oftel or (after 29 December 2003) Ofcom will be called on to formally resolve their dispute. As you are aware, Ofcom will take on its responsibilities on 29 December and will aim to resolve any dispute submitted to it within 4 months.
	I am copying this to Lord Sainsbury of Turville.

Credit Cards: Annual Percentage Rates of Interest

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why no voluntary agreement has been reached between the credit card industry, the Office of Fair Trading and the Department of Trade and Industry on a single method of calculating annual interest percentage rates.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government are working closely with the Office of Fair Trading and the Association for Payment Clearing Services, which represents the credit card industry, to agree a set of assumptions that can be used for the calculation of annual percentage rates on credit cards. This will enable consumers to make a better comparison of different credit card offers.
	At present card issuers make different assumptions and all parties are agreed that the current situation is unsatisfactory and needs to be resolved. It is the Government's intention to publish draft regulations later this year as part of their White Paper on the reform of the Consumer Credit Act which will provide a single method of calculating an annual percentage rate for a credit card.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights will have investigative and enforcement powers beyond the equality field.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government will set out their proposals for the statutory powers and duties of Commission for Equality and Human Rights, including its investigative and enforcement powers, in a White Paper to be published in the spring. The Government will take account of the advice of the task force of representatives of the key interests concerned that they are establishing to provide advice on key issues for the CEHR, as mentioned in the written statement to the House on 30 October Official Report, col. WA 54–7, by my noble friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.

London Stock Exchange: OFT Investigation on Increase in Issuer Fees

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Office of Fair Trading will announce the results of its investigation into the price rise imposed by the London Stock Exchange on its member companies.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will announce the outcome of its investigation into the London Stock Exchange's increase in issuer fees when it has been completed. The timing is a matter for the OFT.

Broadband

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How growth in the number of Internet-enabled households subscribing to Internet services offering speeds of 512 kbps and above in the United Kingdom currently compares with other European Union and G7 countries; and how it is projected to compare in 2005.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government hold neither current nor projected comparative data about growth in the number of Internet-enabled house subscribers offering speeds of 512 kbps and above either in the United Kingdom or in other European Union and G7 countries.
	Data in the following table indicate the total number of subscribers for mass-market broadband services (which includes services at lower speeds) at September 2003 and the growth rate in the previous 12 months for a number of countries including the G7 and selected EU countries.
	
		
			  Total broadband lines 12 month growth rate 
			 Canada 4,307,334 47% 
			 France 2,865,667 227% 
			 Germany 4,315,926 49% 
			 Ireland 20,045 925% 
			 Italy 2,052,776 104% 
			 Japan 12,654,218 118% 
			 Sweden 878,997 16% 
			 UK 2,628,497 189% 
			 USA 24,634,071 86% 
		
	
	Total mass market broadband lines September 2003
	[Source: Analysys]

Market Sensitive Statistical Information

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the premature publication of the September retail sales figures:
	(a) whether they will name the individuals within the Treasury, with their job titles, who had pre-release access to those figures, indicating in each case whether this access was for briefing purposes, for management information or for quality assurance purposes; and (b) whether they have now reduced the number of individuals who have pre-release access to the monthly retail sales figures, and, if so, to what number; and
	Why releases of market sensitive statistical information require early access by Treasury officials and Ministers, either (a) up to 40.5 hours in advance or (b) at all; and
	What are the monthly releases of statistical information which they consider to be market sensitive, showing the numbers of individuals within the Treasury who received early access to each release in the month of September 2003.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In line with long-standing practice under this and previous administrations, Ministers with policy responsibility for the relevant subject matter, and a small number of their officials, are granted limited early access to statistical releases to enable them to respond completely when questions arise at the time of the release of the data. The list of Treasury Ministers and officials who have authorised pre-release access to National Statistics First Releases is available on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website.
	In addition the Macroeconomic Statistics Service Level Agreement, drawn up between ONS and HM Treasury in 1998, lists a further small number of individuals at HM Treasury who receive copies of HM Treasury's internal briefing on these statistical releases before the publication of the data. Since 1998, this list has been updated to reflect changes to personnel and staff structures with the overall number of individuals reduced from eight to seven.
	As noted in the Treasury's statement of 5 November, the Treasury views this incident extremely seriously and is rigorously examining all its procedures to ensure that any repetition is avoided.

Licensing Decisions: Representations by Interested Parties

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What opportunities are provided in the Licensing Act 2003 for individual residents to make representations about licensing decisions.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Licensing Act 2003 provides that interested parties, which include persons living or involved in a business in the vicinity of a premises or bodies representing them, may make representations about applications for provisional statements and about the grant or variation of premises licences or club premises certificates, except where a simple conversion of an existing licence or certificate is made under the grandfather rights provisions in Schedule 8 of the Act. Interested parties may also apply for the review of a licence or certificate at any time as well as make representations about a review once it has been applied for. Representations must be about the effects of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives.

Gambling

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have plans to bring forward further draft proposals for a modernisation of the law on gambling.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: We have today published the major sections of the draft Gambling Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.
	The Bill will make major changes to the way in which gambling is regulated and controlled in Great Britain. It will build on the work undertaken by Sir Alan Budd and the Gambling Review Body that he led.
	It is based on the three key principles. First, the principle that the system of gambling law and regulation must keep the gambling industry free of crime. Our industry has a high international reputation for integrity, which must not be put at risk. Secondly, the law must ensure that gambling is conducted fairly, so that players know what to expect. Thirdly, there must be effective protection for children and the vulnerable.
	The current laws on gambling dating back to the 1960s have failed to keep pace with rapid technological change. Attitudes to gambling have changed too. The law needs to be modernised but we must make sure that it is flexible enough to cope with further change.
	However, modernisation does not mean a gambling free for all and reform must not be allowed to generate an upsurge in problem gambling. The provisions published today combine a managed relaxation of outdated restrictions with the strongest protections for children and the vulnerable. Following reform, there will be greater choice for adults but there will remain important limitations on what types of gambling are available and where they can be located.
	In A Safe Bet for Success (published in March 2002, Cmnd 5397) we accepted the vast majority of the Gambling Review's recommendations. Since then, we have been working closely with the interested industries, representatives of groups encouraging responsible gambling, local authorities, consumer groups, other government departments and the devolved administrations to prepare draft legislation that would give effect to this new system of regulation.
	The proposals published today build on and subsume the draft clauses published in July 2003. They will simplify regulation by establishing a single regulator for commercial gambling. The Gambling Commission will have wider functions, greater flexibility to act and stronger enforcement powers than the Gaming Board that it will replace. Local authorities will license all types of gambling premises, to ensure that local people have a say in where gambling outlets are sited.
	The draft Bill will keep crime out of gambling and protect the industry's reputation for integrity and excellence. The Gambling Commission will be a strong, effective regulator and will root out illegal gambling; its staff will have statutory powers of entry, search and seizure.
	The draft Bill also removes unnecessary restrictions on the ability of business to meet consumers' wishes. The rule allowing casinos to be established only in designated parts of the country will be abolished, as will the rule requiring membership of a casino or bingo club at least 24 hours before playing. Remote gambling, for example on the Internet, interactive TV and through mobile telephones, will be licensed and regulated effectively in Great Britain for the first time.
	The published clauses also strengthen safeguards protecting children and the vulnerable. The current minimum age limits for access to gambling products will be retained and enforced strongly. The draft Bill also includes reserve powers for a statutory levy on gambling operators. These powers will be used if the gambling industry does not keep its promises to contribute to a charitable trust funding research, prevention and treatment programmes for problem gambling.
	A Joint Committee of both Houses has been convened to examine the Government's draft proposals. We are confident that what they will scrutinise is a set of mature proposals that will achieve a sensible reform of the law on gambling. Such scrutiny will improve the legislation and build parliamentary understanding and public confidence, enabling us to strike the right balance between deregulation and the protection of young and vulnerable people.
	We intend to publish the remaining sections of the draft Bill early next year.

Hazardous Waste

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given their plan to reduce the number of sites which can receive hazardous waste next year, what volume of hazardous waste the United Kingdom has provision for over the next six years.

Lord Whitty: There are no government plans to reduce the number of sites that can receive hazardous waste. From July 2002, the Landfill Directive required operators to specify whether their sites will be inert, non-hazardous or hazardous waste landfills. In July 2004, when co-disposal of waste ends, those landfill sites classified as hazardous in 2002 can alter their classification to non-hazardous. Following this reclassification exercise, and working from the current information supplied by the waste management industry, we believe that a relatively small number of sites will continue as hazardous waste landfills. However, also from July 2004, the Landfill Directive permits stable non-reactive hazardous waste to be disposed of in a separate cell in non-hazardous landfills.
	Analysis conducted by the Hazardous Waste Forum shows that there is likely to be sufficient capacity in non-hazardous and hazardous waste landfill to deal with hazardous waste arisings. It is estimated that approximately 3 million tonnes of hazardous waste will require landfilling each year.

Hazardous Waste

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much hazardous waste they expect will be imported from other countries in the next six years.

Lord Whitty: It is difficult to predict expected imports for the next six years. However, the total hazardous waste imported to the United Kingdom for the years 1996 to 2001 ranged from approximately 90,000 to 182,000 tonnes per annum.

Shipbreaking

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether waste from ships imported for breaking will subsequently be exported to the country from which it came.

Lord Whitty: No. In most cases, the majority of the waste arising from ships will comprise steel, which can be recovered or recycled together with relatively small quantities of wastes for disposal. Overall though the import of the waste ship may be classed as waste moving for recovery. The return of waste as part of the transfrontier movement is not normally envisaged. The United Kingdom has a policy of not exporting waste for disposal.

Shipbreaking

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there was any official or unofficial written or verbal discussion between the United Kingdom and United States Governments prior to November 2003 on the issues of the "ghost fleet" disposal.

Lord Whitty: There has been a regular dialogue between the UK authorities including the Environment Agency and those in the US both before and during November 2003.

Watercourse Dredgings

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy on the use and classification of material that is dredged from watercourses to maintain channel capacity; and
	What is the status of material that is dredged from watercourses; and whether it can have more than one status; and
	Whether they propose to change their policy concerning material that is dredged from watercourses; if so, whether any such change has been costed; and whether it represents the most sustainable option.

Lord Whitty: The regulatory and technical provisions of the 1999 EU Landfill Directive, including those on the treatment and disposal of liquid dredgings, were implemented in England and Wales by the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002. The ban on landfilling of non-hazardous liquid wastes is unlikely to come fully into force before 2006. My department is currently working with the Environment Agency and others to deliver a policy that meets the needs of all parties, bearing in mind that the UK must comply with EU law.
	The Government are committed to reducing the UK's reliance on landfill, which makes little practical use of waste and is a missed opportunity to recover value from waste. The Government believe that landfilling of waste sites at the bottom of the waste hierarchy and in their waste strategy have set out a range of policies to promote the reduction, re-use, recycling and recovery of waste in order to divert it from landfill.

Wetlands

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Article 2 of the draft Water Framework Directive does not include a definition of wetlands because the wetlands associated with a river are included within the definition of a river; or whether a river is that area of water that is normally between two banks; and
	If wetlands are not included within the definition of a river in the draft Water Framework Directive regulations for England and Wales, what status they have.

Lord Whitty: The Water Framework Directive defines a river as a "body of inland water flowing for the most part on the surface of the land but which may flow underground for part of its course." The draft England and Wales regulations contain the same definition. The directive does not set environmental objectives for wetlands as such, and this may be why there is no separate definition of this term.
	A wetland that is dependent on a groundwater body, that forms part of a surface water body, or that is a protected area, will however benefit from directive obligations to protect and restore the status of water. The draft regulations for England and Wales will provide the framework within which those obligations will be met.

Waste: Pulverised Fuel Ash and Blast Furnace Slag

Lord Dixon-Smith: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the reclassification of pulverised fuel ash as waste requiring a licence by the Environment Agency will reduce the total of recycled products in the waste processing statistics by 3.5 million tonnes; and
	Whether blast furnace slag is to be classified as waste requiring a licence instead of being directly recyclable as in the past; and
	What impact the reclassification of pulverised fuel ash as waste requiring a licence will have on the total waste going to landfill; and
	Whether the reclassification of pulverised fuel ash as waste requiring a licence is consistent with their policy for recycling.

Lord Whitty: The definition of waste in force in the United Kingdom is the definition in Article 1(a) of the Waste Framework Directive (as amended). It provides that waste means, " . . . any substance or object . . . which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard." Whether or not a substance, such as power station ash or blast furnace slag, is discarded as waste is a matter which must be determined on the facts of the case and the interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued several judgments on the interpretation of the definition of waste and the meaning of "discard". ECJ judgments are binding on member states and their "competent authorities".
	The Government have not classified either pulverised fuel ash or blast furnace slag as waste. It rests in the first place with the producer of a substance to decide whether it is being discarded as waste. The Environment Agency is designated as a competent authority for the purposes of the directive and is responsible for the application of its controls to substances discarded as waste.
	The Government propose, in consultation with the Environment Agency, to review in the light of the ECJ's judgments the guidance on the interpretation of the definition of waste originally provided in DOE Circular 11/94. But it is not feasible for any revised guidance which the Government issue to determine whether any particular substance is in any particular circumstances discarded as waste. It will be feasible only for any revised guidance to advise on the factors which the ECJ has determined should be taken into account in reaching a decision.
	Power station ash—including pulverised fuel ash—and blast furnace slags are two of the waste streams discussed in the Government's Waste Strategy 2000 (paragraphs 8.139–8.149) (Cm 4693–2). As the strategy makes clear, delivering sustainable development means not only putting waste to good use through recycling but also choosing products made from recycled waste. This is why the Government set up the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)—to promote recycling and to create stable and efficient markets for products made from recycled waste. In this context, it is necessary to have regard to the fact that it is only substances which are discarded as waste which are capable of being "recycled" within the meaning of the Waste Framework Directive and related legislation.
	The Government continue to encourage the recovery of waste by means of recycling, re-use and reclamation. This encouragement includes the use of the Government's discretion under Article 11 of the Waste Framework Directive to provide exemptions from waste management licensing. Licensing exemptions for the recycling of ash discarded as waste are provided in paragraphs 9, 13 and 19 of Schedule 3 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994.

Waste: Pulverised Fuel Ash and Blast Furnace Slag

Lord Dixon-Smith: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why it is necessary to replace pulverised fuel ash with a new aggregate for purposes such as stabilising old mine workings.

Lord Whitty: The Government have imposed no requirement which makes it necessary to replace pulverised fuel ash (pfa) with new aggregate for purposes such as stabilising old mine workings. The effect of the Waste Framework Directive is to require a permit, such as a waste management licence issued by the Environment Agency, for the disposal or recovery of waste. This requirement applies to the disposal or recovery of pfa discarded as waste. The requirement does not preclude the use of waste pfa for purposes such as stabilising old mine workings. But it is necessary for anyone proposing to use waste pfa for this purpose to apply to the Environment Agency for the necessary licence. It is the applicant's responsibility to do so as part of his project planning.
	The use of waste ash for purposes such as this was the subject of a judgment by the European Court of Justice in Case C-600 on 27 February 2002 (Abfall). Among other matters, the Court was asked for a ruling on whether the use of waste ash to secure hollow spaces (mine-sealing) is a waste disposal or recovery operation. The Court's judgment was that, "The deposit must be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the operation is a disposal or recovery operation within the meaning of that Directive [the Waste Framework Directive]. Such a deposit constitutes a recovery operation if its principal objective is that the waste serve a useful purpose in replacing other materials which would have had to be used for that purpose".

Hazardous Waste Criteria and Regulations

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will issue the hazardous waste criteria and regulations.

Lord Whitty: We aim to issue for consultation new regulations on the control of hazardous waste in England at the end of this year, together with new regulations listing the European Waste Catalogue. There will be a three month consultation period. We intend to lay both sets of regulations before Parliament in the spring. The regulations are expected to come into force in the summer of 2004.
	The draft Landfill (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, that implement the European Council Decision on waste acceptance criteria in England and Wales, are currently out for consultation. That consultation ends on 17 December 2003 and a response to the consultation will be placed on the Defra website in the new year. We remain on target to meet the EU requirement to transpose this legislation by July 2004.

Northern Ireland Civil Service: Holidays

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 30 October (WA 64), why St Patrick's Day and 12 July are not listed for Northern Ireland.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I regret that my earlier Written Answer did not list more specifically holidays enjoyed by civil servants in Northern Ireland. St Patrick's Day and 12 July are indeed bank holidays.
	While the Cabinet Office is responsible for the policy on leave and attendance in the Civil Service, bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry. Dates for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Executive.
	
		Civil servants in Northern Ireland are allowed public and privilege holidays up to a maximum of 12 days a year. The distribution of these days over the year is:
		
			   
			 New Year's Day Bank Holiday if  proclaimed 
			 17 March  (St Patrick's Day) Bank Holiday 
			 Easter Monday Bank Holiday 
			 Easter Tuesday in lieu of Good Friday 
			 May Day Bank Holiday Bank Holiday if  proclaimed 
			 Late May Bank Holiday Bank Holiday 
			 12 July  (Orangemen's Day) Bank and Public  Holiday if proclaimed 
			 13 July Privilege Day 
			 Late Summer Bank  Holiday Bank Holiday 
			 Christmas Day Common Law Holiday 
			 Boxing Day Bank Holiday 
			 An additional day at  Christmas Privilege Day

Civil Service: Staffing

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many additional civil servant posts have been created in the years (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 (first six months).

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The figures on a full-time equivalence basis are set out in the table below and are also available at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics.
	
		
			 Year Number Increase 
			 1 April 2001 482,690 
			 1 April 2002 490,420 7,730 
			 1 April 2003 512,400 21,980 
		
	
	The figures for the first six months of 2003–04 are currently being collected and are therefore not yet available.

Civil Service: Staffing

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of new Civil Service posts created since the year 2001–02 are designated as front-line service delivery jobs.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service are collected from departments and agencies twice yearly in April and October. The information is available from www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics. Individual departments are responsible for the number and composition of staff they employ to deliver their objectives.

B6403: Colsterworth Junction Improvement

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 5 November (WA 120–21), whether there are plans to improve the junction where the B6403 crosses the A1 north of the Colsterworth roundabout.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The B6403 junction is to be improved as part of the Colsterworth junction improvement scheme.

Northern Ireland: Listed Buildings

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which listed buildings have been damaged or destroyed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and in which cases successful prosecutions have followed.

Baroness Amos: Information on damage to, or destruction of, listed buildings is not collated and it could not, therefore, be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
	However, the Department of the Environment is aware of the following listed buildings having been destroyed in Northern Ireland during the last five years:
	1999 Chapelfield Parochial House, Laurel Hill, Coleraine
	2000 Mount St Columb, Rostrevor Road, Warrenpoint
	2001 Rock Castle, Portstewart
	34 Upper English Street, Armagh
	Partial demolition of a building within the
	curtilage of Jennymount Mill, North Derby
	Street, Belfast
	2002 Tillie and Henderson Building, Carlisle
	Square, Londonderry
	2003 9–11 The Diamond, Portstewart 41-43 Court Street, Newtownards (rear
	return only)
	Successful prosecutions have taken place in respect of the Chapelfield, Upper English Street, and Mount Street Columb, cases.
	In respect of The Diamond, Portstewart, the Department of the Environment's Planning Service has started legal proceedings against the demolition offence.
	In respect of Court Street, Newtownards, the Planning Service is presently liaising with the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service's Listed Buildings Section with a view to instigating legal action against the owner.
	In respect of Tillie and Henderson, the Planning Service has sought legal advice from senior counsel with a view to instigating enforcement action.

Northern Ireland: Advice to Ministers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 October (WA 89), why the advice offered to two senior officials of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure by the chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency concerning the budget for 2003 was not provided to the Minister before she took the appropriate decision.

Baroness Amos: I am not aware of any advice offered by the chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency. It is not, however, the practice of government to comment on advice given to Ministers by officials.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer from the Lord President on 16 October (WA 127), concerning North/South Implementation Bodies, whether they will give these figures as a percentage of each body's total budget for each year, separating the Language Body into the Irish Agency and the Ulster Scots Agency.

Baroness Amos: The table below provides the internal staff costs of the North/South Implementation Bodies as a percentage of each body's total expenditure in each year.
	Costs relating to the year 2000 relate to the period December 1999–December 2000.
	
		
			 Body 2000 2001 2002 
			  % % % 
			 Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights  Commission 55 86 46 
			 Waterways Ireland 40 39 31 
			 The Trade and Business Development  Body 25 31 26 
			 Special EU Programmes Body 51 31 64 
			 Food Safety Promotion Board 8 8 11 
			 Ulster Scots Agency 39 18 11 
			 Irish Language Agency 58 11 10 
		
	
	The year 2000 covers the period 2 December 1999– 31 December 2000.
	Exchange rates IR £ = £.8058, effective at 1 January 2002
	E = £.6854 effective at March 2003.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Regarding the recruitment of civilian staff to the police in Northern Ireland, how many recruits were sought; when they were sought; and how many were recruited.

Baroness Amos: The current recruitment arrangements for civilian staff were introduced in the Police (Northern Ireland) 2000 Act. It requires that where there are more than six vacancies at the same level and which are to be filled at or about the same time, then appointments must be made from a pool of qualified candidates on a 50:50 basis.
	The tables below show the requested figures for all the competitions that have taken place for civilian posts in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. It is important to note that some competitions are still ongoing and the numbers recruited from those competitions are not yet finalised.
	
		Table 1 Less than six vacancies (i.e. not subject to appointment on a 50:50 basis)
		
			 Position Date Advertised Number Sought Number Recruited 
			 Medical Adviser 9 November 2001 1 0 
			 Occupational  Health Nurse 9 November 2001 2 2 
			 Nursing Adviser 9 November 2001 4 4 
			 Clinical  Psychologist 9 November 2001 1 0 
			 Fire Safety Officer 29 November 2001 1 1 
			 Welfare Officer 26 March 2002 1 0 
			 Junior Occupational  Psychologists 25 April 2002 2 2 
			 Health & Safety  Advisors 24 May 2002 3 3 
			 Senior Crime  Analyst 20 June 2002 1 1 
			 Graduate Trainee  Accountants 20 June 2002 2 3 
			 School Teacher  Liaison Officer 15 March 2002 1 1 
			 Deputy Director  Press Office 9 May 2002 1 1 
			 Staff Officer—Press  Office 9 May 2002 2 4 
			 Purchase Ledger  Supervisor 6 February 2002 1 1 
			 Staff Officer—  Central Pay 1 April 2002 1 1 
			 Mapping Officer 3 October 2002 5 1 
			 Clinical  Psychologist 27 October 2002 2 2 
			 Medical Advisers 27 October 2002 2 2 
			 Practice Manager 27 October 2002 1 1 
			 Financial Accounts  Supervisor 24 October 2002 1 1 
			 Fingerprint Officers 7 November 2002 5 4 
			 H&S Accident  Investigator 7 November 2002 1 1 
			 Corporate Diversity  Manager 3 November 2002 1 1 
			 TED Director 3 November 2002 1 1 
			 Financial Accounting  Technician 30 January 2003 3 3 
			 Purchase Ledger  Supervisor 30 January 2003 1 1 
			 Photographers 12 February 2003 5 4 
			 Fingerprint  Photographer 14 February 2003 1 1 
			 PE Instructor 12 February 2003 1 1 
			 Head of Bureau 3 April 2003 1 1 
			 Quality Services  Manager 3 April 2003 1 1 
			 Head of Supplies 10 April 2003 1 1 
			 Scientific Officer 1 May 2003 1 1 
			 Deputy Director of  Media & PR 8 May 2003 1 1 
			 Public Affairs  Officer 8 May 2003 1 1 
			 Financial  Accountant 14 August 2003 1 1 
			 Project Sponsor 28 August 2003 2 2 
			 Accountant 18 September 2003 1 1 
			 Health & Safety  Adviser 16 October 2003 1 * 
		
	
	* Not complete
	
		Table 2 More than six vacancies (appointment is on a 50:50 basis)
		
			 Position Date Advertised Number Sought Number Recruited 
			 Administrative  Assistants 9 November 2001 Ongoing vacancies 30 
			 Photographic Officer 23 May 2002 7 2 
			 Personnel Manager 17 May 2002 to March 2003 15+ 8 
			 Telecommunications  Engineering  Technician 15 March 2002 14 6 
			 Traffic Warden 14 February 2002 30 8 
			 Trainee Police  Analyst 5 March 2002 20 14 
			 Press Officer 26 September 2002 8 8 
			 IT Specialist 3 October 2002 16 16 
			 Driving Instructor 3 October 2002 6 6 
			 Trainee Police  Analyst 9 January 2003 18 10 (appointed to date) 
			 Station Enquiry  Assistant 12 February 2003 60 35 (appointed to date) 
			 Business Manager 20 March 2003 14 8 (appointed to date) 
			 Telecommunications  Engineering  Technician 10 April 2003 14 Appointments to be confirmed

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 9 September (WA 105), in what form and by whom the Ulster-Scots Agency was informed about its budget being reduced by 16 per cent by the Eire Government.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to him on 11 June 2003 (WA 44).

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 May (WA 1), whether the budget for 2003 for the Language Implementation Body was set by a department of the Eire Government; and
	Whether the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal to Question HL2474 (12 May, WA 1) is consistent with the Written Answer to Question HL2475 (12 May, WA 2).

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given to HL5244 on 18 November 2003 (WA 271).
	The Answer given on 12 May (WA 1) is consistent with the Answer given on 12 May (WA 2).

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 15 July (WA 91), whether they will place in the Library of the House all documentation, including e-mails, letters, memoranda and minutes of meetings, concerning the discussions between the departments on the setting of the budget for the Ulster-Scots Agency for 2003.

Baroness Amos: The papers relating to the decisions made on the Language Body budget under the Exchange of Notes of 19 November 2002 have been placed in the Library.
	Under Part II, Paragraph 2 (Internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it would be inappropriate for the Government to disclose documentation relating to discussions on the budget for the Language Body.

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 15 July (WA 96) concerning the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency, why the agency was not allowed to transfer funds from one financial year to the next for specific projects.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the answers given on 15 July 2003 (WA 96), Tuesday 24 June 2003 (WA 7), Monday 13 January (WA 1) and Tuesday 26 November 2002 (WA 36).

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure agreed to reduce the 2003 budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency by 16 per cent.

Baroness Amos: In accordance with the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the two Governments dated 19 November 2002, the budget for the agency for 2003 was agreed by the Government of the UK and the Government of the Republic of Ireland as part of the overall budget for the North/South Language Body. This took account of a number of factors, including in particular pressures on public expenditure in the South. The budget for 2003 has now been increased in line with revised business plans for the Irish Language Agency and the Ulster Scots Agency.

North/South Language Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 June (WA 45), on what date and in what form the Special Advisers in the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers were consulted about the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 9 September 2003 (WA 105).

Independent Monitoring Commission

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) How often the four members of the Independent Monitoring Commission have met;
	(b) how often the two United Kingdom members of the Independent Monitoring Commission have met; and
	(c) what payments and expenses will be available to each of the members of this monitoring commission.

Baroness Amos: The four members of the Independent Monitoring Commission, including those from the United Kingdom, met for the first time on 12 October 2003. No meeting has occurred since. Specific details of costs concerning payments and expenses are being finalised. As with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, the Government intend to make IMC accounts available in due course.

Strangford Lough: Prawn Fishing

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What new proposals there are to restrict the fishing of prawns in Strangford Lough; whether a consultation document will be issued; if so, to whom it will be made available; and what is the proposed timetable.

Baroness Amos: Currently there are no proposals to restrict fishing for prawns in Strangford Lough. However, should the department decide to introduce legislation, depending on the nature of the legislation required, it will consult in accordance with legislative requirements.

Northern Ireland Civil Service: Smoking Policy

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is proper use of public funds to facilitate smoking in the Northern Ireland Civil Service through the funding of 144 smoking chambers.

Baroness Amos: Since the policy on smoking was first issued in 1978, revised in 1987 and again in 1994, the NICS has been to the forefront in developing progressive workplace smoking policies aimed primarily at protecting non-smokers from the harmful effects of passive smoking.
	In line with increasing workplace restrictions being placed on smokers at those early stages, it was agreed with the trade unions that, where practicable, a properly ventilated smoking room should be provided in each building. This remains the practice in many public sector and private sector organisations across the UK.
	The noble Lord will be aware that a further policy review is under way and it is anticipated that this review will have a significant impact on the current position within the NICS.

Northern Ireland Bureau, Washington

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the head of the Northern Ireland Office in Washington was appointed; by whom; and using what criteria.

Baroness Amos: The Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington was appointed by open competition, by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. It was conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code.
	Candidates were required to demonstrate core competencies in the areas of communication, personal effectiveness and leadership, conceptual and strategic thinking, planning and managing relationships and partnerships. In addition a comprehensive knowledge of current key issues involving Northern Ireland and in particular its administration, and other Northern Ireland bodies, as appropriate, and how these should be represented in the United States.

Ulster Scots Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to develop or support Ulster Scots cultural tourism in the local council areas of Larne and North Down.

Baroness Amos: The Natural Resource Rural Tourism Initiative (NRRTi), jointly developed by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of the Environment, is aimed at developing tourism, including cultural tourism, in selected rural areas throughout Northern Ireland. NRRTi funding has been made available during the period 2002–06 to the Causeway Coast and Antrim Glens. This funding can be accessed by Larne Borough Council.
	The Ulster Scots Agency, which receives core funding from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, provides some financial support for Ulster Scots events in Larne and North Down Council areas. The support of such community activity provides an impetus and focus for the development and marketing of cultural tourism.

Ulster Scots Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	From what sources the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure receives advice on Ulster-Scots culture, history, language and identity.

Baroness Amos: I would refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 7 January 2003 (WA 171). In addition to this expert advice the department has received the advice of many people within the Ulster-Scots linguistic and cultural community, for example during the ongoing Future Search consultation process.

Northern Ireland: Religious Discrimination

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Equality Commission is opposed to religious discrimination in all sectors of employment; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Amos: The Equality Commission has a range of functions and powers under the anti-discrimination and equality legislation including that dealing with religious belief or political opinion. These include general duties of promoting equality of opportunity and working towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination.

Northern Ireland: Religious Discrimination

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is opposed to religious discrimination in all sectors of employment; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Amos: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Cross-Border Implementation Bodies: Provision of Cars for Chief Executives

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 October (WA 93), whether the car provided to the first chief executive of the Special Programmes Body was part of his remuneration package; whether the current chief executive has received a car; and, if not, why.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 10 September 2003 (WA 123).
	The current acting chief executive is not provided with a car as this was not part of her temporary promotion arrangements.

Northern Ireland: Prisoners

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In terms of the handling of prisoners in Northern Ireland, what is the difference between separation and segregation.

Baroness Amos: The term "separation" is used to describe a regime in which prisoners connected to loyalist and republican paramilitary groups are kept apart for safety reasons but the staff remain firmly in control.
	The segregated regime that existed in the Maze Prison was heavily criticised for the lack of control that prison staff were able to exert.
	It is the Government's clear objective that by developing "separated" conditions for certain prisoners, the prison service staff retain authority over the conduct of prisoners and the regime in which they live.

Law Officers' Advice: Disclosure

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Attorney-General on 6 November (WA 128–129), what is the justification in terms of the public interest in publishing a summary of the Attorney-General's view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq while withholding from public disclosure the detailed consideration of the legal issues upon which that view was based.

Baroness Amos: By long-standing convention, observed by successive governments, the fact of and substance of the Law Officers' advice is not disclosed outside government. The convention is referred to in paragraph 24 of the Ministerial Code. This enables the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence, as everyone else can. Consistent with this convention, the Attorney-General's advice relating to the proposed military action against Iraq has not been disclosed. However, in view of the high-level of public interest in the proposed military action, the Attorney-General, exceptionally, made a Written Statement in Parliament on 17 March 2003 setting out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq.

HIV and AIDS: Developing Countries and Generic Drugs

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which developing countries are expected to be able to manufacture their own generic drugs to treat HIV and AIDS; and whether they anticipate that this will have the effect of putting pressure on pharmaceutical companies to reduce their prices.

Baroness Amos: A number of developing countries have levels of capability in their pharmaceutical sector; a detailed list is attached. The developing countries whose generic drug manufacturing capacity is substantial enough to manufacture their own drugs to treat HIV and AIDS include Mexico, Brazil, China, India and South Africa.
	All of the factors affecting access to medicines are inter-linked and one strategy alone will not have sufficient impact on pricing or access to affordable drugs for the poor. However, the lowest world price for average annual triple therapy drugs has been reduced by approximately 95 per cent over the past three years. At the beginning of 2000 anti-retro viral (ARV) triple combination therapy typically cost over 10,000 US dollars. Since then a combination of price reductions by patent based pharmaceutical companies, schemes such as the Accelerated Access Initiative, increased demand through donor financing and the introduction of generic competition have brought prices down to almost 200 US dollars. It is important to note that these are supply side prices and not the price to the end user. Prices can be inflated through taxes, tariffs and other additional costs on their route to a medical centre or patient. It is also important to note that these prices are not available in all developing countries but represent the best world price available.
	The factors recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that can improve poor peoples' access to medicines are: affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs.
	The UK Government are pursuing a number of different approaches to make essential drugs—including those for the treatment of HIV/AIDS—available in developing countries. These include working with other G8 countries, developing country governments, multi-lateral institutions, the pharmaceutical industry (generic and patent-based), investors and NGOs to encourage companies to reduce their prices in developing countries.
	The Prime Minister's high level Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World recommended differential pricing of essential medicines for the developing world. The UK Government are working to secure greater international commitment to affordable pricing.

Russia: DfID Support for Harm Reduction Programmes

Viscount Craigavon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the general aims of the report by International Family Health, HIV/AIDS and drug misuse in Russia: harm reduction programmes and the Russian legal system.

Baroness Amos: Yes. The Department for International Development has provided technical assistance worth £480,000 for a project entitled Building Police Support for Harm Reduction managed by International Family Health, which runs from August 2001 to December 2003. The project aims to work in partnership with the Russian police as an integral part of strategies, including harm reduction, for combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Russia, and IFH's report is one of its outputs. The report seeks to analyse and raise questions about a range of issues on HIV/AIDS and drugs misuse, and harm reduction programmes in Russia, from the standpoint of the Russian legal system. It seeks to contribute to the debate about the efficacy of harm reduction programmes in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Central and South America: Street Children

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate they have made, in consultation with international agencies, of the number of street children in Central and South America; and what is the figure for each country in the region.

Baroness Amos: There is no internationally accepted estimate of the number of street children in Central and South America as there is neither an agreed definition nor evidence to support any figures that are quoted. Street children form a proportion of the 135 million people that live in poverty in Latin America (on less than 2 dollars per day). In Latin America, we know that some 2 million children are out of school at primary level, and 20 million at secondary level (UNESCO). Some of these will be street children.

Central and South America: Street Children

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What support they have given to projects involving street children in Central and South America in each of the past five years; and what support they plan to give next year.

Baroness Amos: The Government have been providing support through our contribution to reducing poverty generally and through assistance to organisations working with street children, either directly or through our contribution to the work of the European Commission. Full details of direct assistance will be placed in the Library shortly.
	There are no current plans to provide additional support directly to street children projects next year from DfID's Latin American programme.

Central and South America: Street Children

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What effect the new Department for International Development policy on withdrawing aid to middle-income countries is likely to have on the programme of aid to street children in Central and South America.

Baroness Amos: DfID will be focusing its reduced bilateral programme on working more closely with multilateral donors to enhance their effectiveness in tackling the poverty that leads to children living in the streets. Finance for initiatives to help street children directly will continue to be available from DfID's central funding for British NGOs.

"Middle Income" Countries

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their definition of "middle-income countries"; and which countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean fall within that definition.

Baroness Amos: The definition is based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita as calculated by the World Bank. The income ranges are revised annually. For the purposes of DfID expenditure for the years 2003–04 to 2005–06 middle-income countries will be those with a GNI per capita in 2001 of more than 745 dollars but less than 9,206 dollars. The following Latin American and Caribbean countries fall within this definition: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

House of Lords: Representation of Political Parties

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that the political appointments to membership of the House of Lords reflect the proportion of votes cast for the main political parties at the previous general election; and, if not, what criteria are to be used in recommending such political appointments to the Sovereign.

Baroness Amos: The Government have proposed that representation of the political parties in the House of Lords should have regard to the outcome of the previous general election. The Government are presently consulting on whether this should relate only to votes cast or whether some regard should also be given to the number of seats won by each party. The period for consultation closes on 12 December. The Government will, of course, welcome representations from members of both Houses.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be empowered to promote and secure human rights beyond those which are directly related to equality.

Lord Filkin: The Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be empowered to promote human rights generally, and in relation to equality issues.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be empowered to promote and secure the rights and freedoms protected not only by the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 but also by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the other treaties by which the United Kingdom is bound.

Lord Filkin: In my noble and learned Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor's Answer of 30 October (Official Report WA 54) to the Question from the noble Lord, Lord Haskel, he referred to a task force which will consider a wide range of matters that Government will reflect on in drawing up the White Paper. The scope for the proposed commission to take account of the UK's other international human rights treaty obligations is one such matter.

Supreme Court

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of (a) the cost of establishing the proposed Supreme Court; and (b) the court's annual running costs.

Lord Filkin: Until the building to house the Supreme Court has been identified it is not possible to answer either part of the question. The Government hope to make a decision on the location of the Supreme Court in spring 2004.

Supreme Court

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the number and cost of staff required to run the proposed Supreme Court efficiently.

Lord Filkin: Officials from my department have had a preliminary discussion with the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary about the number of staff required to support the court. No decision has been made on numbers as this may be influenced by the choice of building.

Supreme Court

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many square feet of accommodation are envisaged for the proposed Supreme Court.

Lord Filkin: The draft statement of requirements for the building, which has been discussed with the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, measures approximately 3,000 square metres (32,292 square feet).

Rent Rebates

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total cost of rent rebates payable by local authorities to tenants in each local authority in the year 2002–03.

Lord Rooker: Rent rebates totalling £4.1 billion were granted by local authorities in England in 2002–03 to tenants of dwellings in the Housing Revenue Accounts. A breakdown by local authority will be available in the Libraries of the House.

Nutrition

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to review policy on nutrition to establish the level of nutrient intake which achieves optimum health rather than simply avoiding diseases of nutritional deficiency.

Lord Warner: Dietary reference values for nutrients form the basis of nutrient recommendations on dietary intakes and are used for assessing the adequacy of diets. These levels were set taking into account a variety of factors including levels of nutrients in the diet associated with the absence of nutritional disease. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is currently considering the need for a scientific review of dietary reference values in the context of its deliberations on the committee's forward work programme.

Nutrition

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action is being taken by the Food Standards Agency to review its assessment of the role of high carbohydrate intakes in relation to obesity; and whether that action includes a referral of the issue to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

Lord Warner: Current government advice on carbohydrate intake is based on recommendations from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. This advice was supported by the recent Report of a Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations/World Health Organisation Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases (2003).
	The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is currently considering the need for a scientific review of a number of issues which relate to obesity, as part of its deliberations on the committee's forward work programme.

Nutrition

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent representations they and the Food Standards Agency have received from trade bodies representing the flour, potato and sugar industries in relation to the effectiveness of low carbohydrate diets; and whether it is their policy to ensure that commercial considerations do not outweigh scientific evidence when they review policy on diet and nutrition.

Lord Warner: No such representations have been received from trade bodies representing these food industry sectors in relation to the effectiveness of low carbohydrate diets.
	The Government and the Food Standards Agency place the interests of consumers first when scientific evidence and views from relevant stakeholders on particular policy issues are considered.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement decided to change the name of patients' forums.

Lord Warner: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health announced at its first board meeting on 24 March 2003, that patients' forums would be known as patient and public involvement forums to help the public to understand what their role is.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	By what statutory authority the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement changed the name of patients' forums.

Lord Warner: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health decided to rebrand patients' forums as patient and public involvement forums to help the public to understand their roles. There is no statutory bar to it doing this.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they will ensure the independence of individual patients' forums.

Lord Warner: Legislation establishes patients' forums as organisations that are independent of the National Health Service, government and the organisations that support them. The membership of patients' forums that will consist primarily of local patients will ensure that patients' forums act independently.

NHS Prescriptions

Lord Turnberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of all prescriptions in the National Health Service are subject to charges to patients.

Lord Warner: In England, for 2002, 14 per cent of prescriptions dispensed in the community either attracted a charge at the point of dispensing, or were for patients who had bought prepayment certificates.

General Practitioner Incomes: Rate for Young Patients

Baroness Gardner of Parkes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Carr Hill formula, on which general practitioners' earnings will be based, rates young people at 0.5, so that general practitioners accepting young patients have a reduced income for each of these patients; and whether they are concerned that general practitioners will refuse to accept young people on their lists as a result.

Lord Warner: The formula for calculating global sum payments as part of the new contract for general medical services is based on evidence of the use of primary care by different age groups. The weight given to an age group reflects the average relative workload for practices in delivering primary care to that age group. The practices should receive fair payments for all the patients on their practice list so will not be disadvantaged for accepting young people on to their list.

National Poisons Information Service: Clinical Advice

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the information on which the clinical advice on lindane poisoning provided by the National Poisons Information Service was based in August 2000; and what were the sources of that information; and
	Whether they will conduct a review of the clinical advice given by the National Poisons Information Service for agrochemical and pesticide poisoning with an analysis of both agrochemical industry and independent (non-industry funded) scientific and medical research on which that advice is based.

Lord Warner: The National Poisons Information Services (NPIS) provides information on the management of acute poisoning to health professionals. Such advice is available by telephone or the NPIS clinical database TOXBASE (available free to National Health Service professionals online). The basis of the information provided is an expert professional review of the published literature (both clinical and non-clinical experimental data) using expert clinical toxicological judgement. All TOXBASE entries written since 1999 have been peer-reviewed by all NPIS centres. Advice on the management of lindane poisoning followed this approach.
	There are currently no plans for a general review of the clinical advice given previously and any such review would only be considered if justified by the emergence of significant new relevant information.